Speedway AGM

[SteelShoe]

2 hours ago, TigerIain said:

But if you read the British Speedway article from 3rd November, David Howe is quoted as saying "Josh comes in on a high average so we have had to look at riders who we feel will improve their own average, and I am quite happy with the balance of youth and experience in the team"

I read that as them having signed a full team, but have only announced their star number 1. That doesn't fit with your narrative of Scunthorpe signing Pickering knowing that there would not be a Premiership. 

Even if the conference had been moved to January (which it does appear to have been) there will be plenty of discussing ongoing between promoters to try and find a workable solution prior to that. The conference is normally about formally signing off on the new big changes, with maybe the odd smaller matter brought up at the time

Rob Godfrey has insider information and by all accounts is the major vocal influencer. Doesn't mean they will definitely get a deal with an investor to run a team out of Oxford. He probably has a team signed up on the premise that if 2 leagues doesn't materialise he may have to rethink it. 

[therefused]

22 minutes ago, SteelShoe said:

Maybe they are buying time to try to get a 6th team finalised, can't really think of anything else. This suggests there is a team or teams not willing to compete in a 5 team Prem.

I would say you are correct in that assumption, but whatever team fancies it would basically be a sacrificial lamb, and clearly no current championship team want to do it either as I daresay we would have heard something from now. 

[SteveLyric2]

31 minutes ago, SteelShoe said:

Rob Godfrey has insider information and by all accounts is the major vocal influencer. Doesn't mean they will definitely get a deal with an investor to run a team out of Oxford. He probably has a team signed up on the premise that if 2 leagues doesn't materialise he may have to rethink it. 

Rob is the BSPL Chairman of the Board of Directors. The other Board (not bored!?) Directors are Louis, Bates and Ford.

[Bandit59]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

If Louis is pulling Ippo out of the PL and there is no additional mystery club, surely a PL with 4 teams is a non-starter in which case the 4 remaining clubs will either have to be accommodated in the CL, NDL or not at all.

Assuming Sheffield finds a buyer 

[Steve Irving]

Just now, Bandit59 said:

Assuming Sheffield finds a buyer 

They’ll run regardless. Why is everyone on this fuc*king forum so glass half empty ffs 🙄🙄

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

3 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

They’ll run regardless. Why is everyone on this fuc*king forum so glass half empty ffs 🙄🙄

Why do you think? Because clubs are for sale, clubs are closing for housing, crowds are down, riders haven’t been paid, the TV deal has gone, whilst promotors want to continue with the same structure, that quite clearly isn’t working and isn’t sustainable and that’s just the Premiership. 

[Fromafar]

9 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

They’ll run regardless. Why is everyone on this fuc*king forum so glass half empty ffs 🙄🙄

Glad everything is rosy in your head.

[SteelShoe]

21 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

Why do you think? Because clubs are for sale, clubs are closing for housing, crowds are down, riders haven’t been paid, the TV deal has gone, whilst promotors want to continue with the same structure, that quite clearly isn’t working and isn’t sustainable and that’s just the Premiership. 

Nail on Head

[1 valve]

5 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

Supporters who have been saying “well our league is ok and we’ve already signed this and that rider”  need to slow down a little. There’s quite clearly still plenty to discuss according to today’s Speedway Star so any “signings” already made could well end up null and void!

Rob Godfrey still talking as if there’ll be two divisions, but if nothing gets resolved to have a viable Premiership then they may simply have to go for one league out of necessity. 
 

There’s obviously still plenty to resolve and everything is still up in the air.

Maybe. and if so that would cause a major rethink on not only on the points limit for teams but how to deal with the removal of riders doubling up and the absence of those riders who will not be available to race at weekends, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 
Example in Leicester case from this years lineup, Fricke, Douglas and Becker lost due to weekends and Howarth, Masters, Kemp & Thompson  having to decide which one team they will ride for?
This type of quandary is one reason why one league is not on for 2026 - Although personally I do think one league is the way forward with eight teams (because that's the maximum number of reasonably comparatively competitive riders available) in it and the remaining clubs operating junior/feeder team events and individual round robins (featuring riders from the top flight) - And I know this wont happen because it involves significant change which the BSPA are notably adverse too. 

[Sings4Speedway]

3 hours ago, heathen52 said:

Of course he is happy having an income from 2 teams, plus the occasional guest booking, with only 1 income he may have to find a proper job and just be a part time Speedway rider, could i ask what will he do when he decides to hang up his leathers ?.

Why isn't being a Speedway rider a proper job? Without serious digging i suspect Danny did 50-60 meetings this season across 30 weeks so an average of 2 a week. Then minimum a day in the workshop prior/post meeting so 4 days a week and then his "workplace" is variable commuting distances and comes with fairly unsociable working hours. Im not sure many on here would sign a contract with those terms.  

[SCS]

What ever is happening they need to sort it out soon. As it does not look good for the sport.

[gmuncie]

5 hours ago, 1 valve said:

Maybe. and if so that would cause a major rethink on not only on the points limit for teams but how to deal with the removal of riders doubling up and the absence of those riders who will not be available to race at weekends, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 
Example in Leicester case from this years lineup, Fricke, Douglas and Becker lost due to weekends and Howarth, Masters, Kemp & Thompson  having to decide which one team they will ride for?
This type of quandary is one reason why one league is not on for 2026 - Although personally I do think one league is the way forward with eight teams (because that's the maximum number of reasonably comparatively competitive riders available) in it and the remaining clubs operating junior/feeder team events and individual round robins (featuring riders from the top flight) - And I know this wont happen because it involves significant change which the BSPA are notably adverse too. 

This might be the worst idea yet 

You would be closing down all but your 8 clubs in the league instantly 

[1 valve]

24 minutes ago, gmuncie said:

This might be the worst idea yet 

You would be closing down all but your 8 clubs in the league instantly 

As I said , it won’t happen (at least hope not) so don’t worry. 
However, from an economic point of view and the current state of UK speedway the reality is only 8 or possibly 9 top flight clubs are plausible. 
or as an alternative keep the same number of clubs running, and accept that doubling up is an inevitable requirement to satisfy need for two leagues (at least) to co-exist. 
So the options are.
A. 1 major league of eight and a feeder/development league. 
Or
B. 2 leagues virtually “as per 2025” with sufficient number of teams in the top flight to give it & the sport credibility. 

As I understand it, at present, the BSPA are unable to create a viable way forward to deliver option B due to the self serving intransigence of a few members to accept change. Some would call it an impasse hence why more time required for further discussions to help those self serving promoters to come to their senses.
If not then the development of option A becomes the only possible solution with the ensuing armageddon (which hopefully nobody wants) ensuring the survival of only the fittest & willing promotions.
Incidentally those contracts already agreed and exchanged between riders & clubs for 2026 would become null & void. 


 

 

[Beirao]

49 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

As I said , it won’t happen (at least hope not) so don’t worry. 
However, from an economic point of view and the current state of UK speedway the reality is only 8 or possibly 9 top flight clubs are plausible. 
or as an alternative keep the same number of clubs running, and accept that doubling up is an inevitable requirement to satisfy need for two leagues (at least) to co-exist. 
So the options are.
A. 1 major league of eight and a feeder/development league. 
Or
B. 2 leagues virtually “as per 2025” with sufficient number of teams in the top flight to give it & the sport credibility. 

As I understand it, at present, the BSPA are unable to create a viable way forward to deliver option B due to the self serving intransigence of a few members to accept change. Some would call it an impasse hence why more time required for further discussions to help those self serving promoters to come to their senses.
If not then the development of option A becomes the only possible solution with the ensuing armageddon (which hopefully nobody wants) ensuring the survival of only the fittest & willing promotions.
Incidentally those contracts already agreed and exchanged between riders & clubs for 2026 would become null & void. 


 

 

How about a major league of nine?.It's called the Championship!

[1 valve]

6 minutes ago, Beirao said:

How about a major league of nine?.It's called the Championship!

Yep. A possibility
Solves the need for doubling up. 
Does away with the current Premier league clubs.
None of the current crop of top riders to pay. 
Increase in admission prices to pay the increase points money demanded by the remaining riders to bridge loss of earnings.
No TV - deal like it or not the TV companies are only interested in top performers.

But it could happen  

 

 

 

 

 

[Fortythirtyeight]

8 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Rob is the BSPL Chairman of the Board of Directors. The other Board (not bored!?) Directors are Louis, Bates and Ford.

Can Bates still be a Director when he's no longer a Promoter of a club ?

[1 valve]

1 minute ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Can Bates still be a Director when he's no longer a Promoter of a club ?

Anybody can be appointed a director of a limited company but I suspect the constitution stipulates Directors can only be appointed from the members (shareholders)